Dear Bird and Deal, I usually write you a letter before the beginning of the school year to tell you what I hope the year ahead holds for you. My feelings are more complex and jumbled this year. Even as a writer, I struggle to put words to my emotions. I can’t quite name what … [Read more...] about On the Eve of the First Day of School – 2020 Edition
Bird
Playlist for Bird’s 16th
My baby Bird was 4-years old when I started writing this blog. He just turned 16. I swear, I blinked and time blasted at warp speed. Every damn cliche about children growing up is true. I wish I had enacted more "mores." More playing. More cuddling. More … [Read more...] about Playlist for Bird’s 16th
From the Mouths of Babes to the Mouths of the Hungry
North Carolina is facing a crisis. Our childhood hunger rates hover around 1 in 3 or 1 in 4, depending on the county. That's higher than the national average. There are amazing people and organizations in the trenches of government making sense of policy and legislation to ensure … [Read more...] about From the Mouths of Babes to the Mouths of the Hungry
Happy 14th Birthday, Bird
Dear Bird, You know I’m the sentimental type, right? My heart usurps my brain, for better or worse. You might not realize this yet, but you and I share the same constitution. I see so much of myself in you, the good bits and the not-so-good bits. We are both smarter than … [Read more...] about Happy 14th Birthday, Bird
Happy 13th Birthday, Bird!
I was a rotten teenager. I believe in karma. That means that beginning today, my life is about to become infinitely more challenging. Today Bird has entered the kingdom of teens. Today, Bird is 13. He was a lad of four when I started chronicling our lives and opining on … [Read more...] about Happy 13th Birthday, Bird!
My Sons Wrote to Their Senators About Gun Control
Every so often my sons and I write to our elected officials. We voice our concerns over all sorts of things - standardized testing, military benefits, global vaccines, healthcare. Bird and Deal are 12 and 10 respectively and are keenly astute when it comes to social and political … [Read more...] about My Sons Wrote to Their Senators About Gun Control
Only in America
We are whacking away at childhood innocence. Lockdown drills. Active shooter drills. Arming teachers. Guns in schools, parks, playgrounds. My god, what have we done? When Bird gets home from school we have an hour together before Deal scampers in from up the hill. I relish … [Read more...] about Only in America